Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-03-24
TEE AeRloULruRA1 sILL.
What Hs Provides-The ApprO pria-
aiOn 40 he Paid QuarGer1y.

aiOn 20 BE Paid Quarterly
Special Core pondence Of Gazette and journal
NEWARK, March 18.-A copy OF the
Agricultural Experiment Station bill
which passed the United States House OF
Representatives finally on Friday, Feb.
ruary 25th, BY vote of 152 to IL, has
been obtained by your correspondent. It
Is an act to establish agricultural xperi-
ment stations in connection with tie COL
leges established in the several states
under an act approved July I'd, 1862, and
the acts supplementary thereto. The OBJ.
ject and purpose of the bill is set forth
in the dissemination of practical agricul-
tural knowledge, in this essentially aeri.
cultural country. That in order TO aid
In acquiring and diffusing usefui and
practical information on subjects con-
neoted with agriculture and to pr Iuote
scientific investigation and experiments
respecting the principals and application
of agricultural science, there should
be established under the direction Of
the colleges or agricultural depart
ments in each state in accor dance
with the provisions of an ''aet donating
public lands to the states and territories
which may provide colleges for the
benefit of agriculture and mechanic arts, y
a department to be designated as an agri.
cultural experiment station. Tue object
and duty of said stations will be to con-
duct original researches or verify expert
ments on the physiology of plants and
animals; the diseases to which they are
severally subject, with the remedi 3 for
the same; the chemical composition of
useful plants in their different stages of
growth; the comparative advantages Of
volative cropping as pursued under q
varying series of crops; the capacity of
new plants or trees for acclimation; the
analysis of soils and water; the
chemical composition of manures,
natural or artificial, with experiments de.
signed to test their comparative effects on
crops of different kinds; the adaptation
and value of grasses and forage plants:
tbs composition and digestibility of the
different kinds of food for domestic ami
mails; The scientific and economic cues.
hons involved in the production of butter
and cheese and such other researches
bearing directly on the agricultural in
dustry of the country MS may in each case
be deemed advisable, having due regard
to The varying conditions and needs of
the respective states.
In order to secure, as far as possible.
uniformity of methods and results in the
work, it shall be the duty of the United
States commissioner of agriculture to
furnish forms for the tabuiation of re.
suits Of investigations or experiments; to
indicate, from time to time, such lines of
inquiry as TO him shall seem most i'm
portant and to furnish such advice and
assistance as will best promote the pur.
poses of the act.
These stations shall annually on the
first day of February report to the goy-
ernor of the State full and detailed re-
port of its operations, including state
ment OF receipts and expenditures. Fur.
thermore bulletins or reports of progress
shall be issued at said stations cvery
three months, copies to be sent to each
newspaper in the State and to suoh indi-
viduals actually engaged in farming as
may request them. To meet the expenses
of Investigations and distribution of re-
suits, the sum of 81 900 is appropriated
to each state and TO be specially pro-
vided for by Congress in annual appro-
priations from money in the public
treasury, proceeding from the sales of
public lands, which money is to be paid
to the authorized treasurer of the station |
in quarterly instalments, the first pay
ment being made on October 1st of this |
year. One. fifth of the first annual APP
may be expended in the |
erection, enlargement or repair of build |
ings necessary for the work.
These are the essential and practical
points in the bill under which Delaware
College will at last receive substantial
and deserved Federal aid. 1t is rigidly
provided and understood, however. that
this money is only available for actual
equipment and maintenance of |
this experimental farm. A Senate amend |
ment offered by Senator Edmunds, re-
serves the right of Congress at any time |
to amend, suspend or repeal any or all |
provisions of the act. This was one of |
the bills which the President signed lust
before the adjournment of Congress, and
it is now law. A meeting of the college
trustees will be held in few weeks when
steps towards its establishment
will be considered. Until then eyery-
thing is chaotic.